Al-Ola A. Abdallah, MD

Professional Background

Dr. Al-Ola Abdallah earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan, followed by residency training at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He subsequently completed his Hematology and Oncology fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he developed specialized expertise in plasma cell disorders and advanced therapeutics.
Dr. Abdallah’s clinical and research focus centers on multiple myeloma and related plasma cell dyscrasias, with a strong emphasis on immuno-cellular therapies, including CAR-T and bispecific antibodies. His work is particularly dedicated to advancing treatment strategies for drug-resistant and heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, as well as improving outcomes in AL amyloidosis and light chain deposition disease. He is actively involved in clinical research, translational collaborations, and innovative trial development aimed at bridging gaps in access to next-generation therapies.
In addition to his clinical and research roles, Dr. Abdallah holds multiple leadership and editorial positions. He serves as Executive Director of the ICE-T (Innovations in Cellular Therapy) Congress, driving national and regional efforts to expand education and access to cellular therapies. He is also the Director of the Regional Amyloidosis Symposium in Kansas, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration in amyloidosis care and research.
Dr. Abdallah is an active member of several leading professional organizations, including the American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Arkansas Medical Society, and the Kansas Society of Clinical Oncology. He contributes extensively to academic publishing and oncology education, serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Blood Disorders, as an editor for OncoDaily, and as a faculty associate with OncoAlert. He is also an editor of the USMIRC special edition in Current Oncology and contributes to multiple oncology journals.
Furthermore, Dr. Abdallah plays a key leadership role in the US Myeloma Innovations Research Collaborative, where he supports national and international research initiatives and serves as Editor of the USMIRC News, helping to disseminate high-impact updates in multiple myeloma and cellular therapy.

• MBBS, Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
• Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, OK
• Clinical Fellowship, Hematology & Oncology, University of Arkansas Medical School, Little Rock, AR

• ECFMG certificate , Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
• Internal Medicine Certificate , American Board of Internal Medicine

• Kansas Society of Clinical Oncology , Member, 2025 - Present
• US Myeloma Innovations Research Collaborative , Board of Directors- President, Chair, 2022 - Present
• Southwest Oncology Group , Barlogie-Salmon Myeloma Committee , Member, 2017 - Present
• American Society of Clinical Oncology , Member, 2014 - Present
• American Society of Hematology , Member, 2011 - Present

---

Research

Overview

Dr. Al-Ola A. Abdallah is a hematologist–oncologist specializing in multiple myeloma and plasma cell disorders, with a strong focus on immuno-cellular therapies and translational clinical research. His work bridges clinical trials, real-world evidence, and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve outcomes across the disease continuum, including smoldering myeloma, relapsed/refractory disease, AL amyloidosis, and light chain deposition disease.
A central theme of Dr. Abdallah’s research is the development and optimization of novel immunotherapies, including CAR-T cell therapies and bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs). He investigates strategies to enhance efficacy, reduce treatment-related toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), and define optimal sequencing of these therapies. His work also addresses mechanisms of resistance, including antigen escape, with the goal of improving durability of response in heavily pretreated patients.
Dr. Abdallah is actively involved in multicenter and real-world studies evaluating access to advanced therapies. Through the US Myeloma Innovations Research Collaborative (USMIRC), he examines disparities in referral patterns, socioeconomic barriers, and healthcare system limitations that affect timely delivery of cellular therapies. His research aims to generate actionable insights to improve equity and expand access across both academic and community oncology settings.
His additional research interests include response assessment and prognostication in multiple myeloma, with a focus on minimal residual disease (MRD) as a prognostic and potential surrogate endpoint. He is engaged in studies exploring MRD-guided treatment strategies, including de-escalation and fixed-duration approaches, particularly in the context of emerging immunotherapies.
Dr. Abdallah also contributes to clinical trial development and translational research efforts focused on drug development in relapsed/refractory myeloma. His work includes building predictive models and clinical frameworks to guide therapeutic decision-making and optimize patient selection for advanced therapies.
He serves as Executive Director of the ICE-T Congress, a national and international platform that promotes collaboration, education, and dissemination of advances in cellular therapies. Through his research and leadership, Dr. Abdallah is committed to advancing innovation and improving patient-centered outcomes in hematologic malignancies

• Dileo R, Mewawalla P, Babu K, Yin Y, Strouse C, Chen E, Shaikh H, Davis JA, Green KM, Alkharabsheh O, Rashid A, Pokhrel B, Ahmed N, Abdallah AO, Hashmi H. 2025. A real-world experience of efficacy and safety of belantamab mafodotin in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma.. Blood cancer journal, 15 (1), 34
• Wesson William, Rashid Aliya, Saif Md Saiful, Logan Emerson, Tabak Carine, McGann Mary, Davis James A, Hazlett Liz, Lutfi Forat, Mushtaq Muhammad Umair, Abdallah Al-Ola, Hoffmann Marc S, Hashmi Hamza, McGuirk Joseph P, Hamadani Mehdi, Ahmed Nausheen. 2023. Balancing Monitoring and Access: Optimal Duration of Monitoring for CD19 and BCMA CART Recipients for Lymphoma and Myeloma. Blood, 142 (Supplement 1), 6914-6914. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2023-182872
• Alkharabsheh Omar, Bellman Polina, Mahmoudjafari Zahra, Cui Wei, Atrash Shebli, Paul Barry, Hashmi Hamza, Shune Leyla, Ahmed Nausheen, Abdallah Al-Ola. 2023. Adverse Hematological and Non-Hematological Events in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma That Are Responsive to Daratumumab, Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone. Journal of Hematology, 12 (1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.14740/jh1085
• Hungria Vania, Robak Paweł, Hus Marek, Zherebtsova Vera, Ward Christopher, Ho P Joy, Hájek Roman, Kim Kihyun, Grosicki Sebastian, Sia Hanlon, Bryant Adam, Pitombeira de Lacerda Marcelo, Martinez Gracia Aparecida, Sureda Balarí Anna, Sandhu Irwindeep, Cerchione Claudio, Ganly Peter, Dimopoulos Meletios A, Fu Chengcheng, Garg Mamta, Abdallah Al-Ola, Gatt Moshe E, Oriol Rocafiguera Albert, Cavo Michele, Rifkin Robert, Fujisaki Tomoaki, Mielnik Michał, Ficek Joseph, Mantero Alejandro, Pirooz Nick, Varghese Sybil, Lee Joe, McKeown Astrid, Rogers Rachel, Baig Hena, Eccersley Lydia, Roy-Ghanta Sumita, Mukhopadhyay Pralay, Nielsen Jacqueline, Opalinska Joanna, Mateos María-Victoria. 2025. Belantamab mafodotin plus bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (DREAMM-7): updated overall survival analysis from a global, randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Oncology, 26 (8), 1067-1080. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1470-2045(25)00330-4
• Abdallah Al-Ola. 2025. Comparative Meta-Analysis of Triplet vs. Quadruplet In- duction Regimens in Newly Diagnosed, Treatment Naïve, Multiple Myeloma. USMIRC News (3), 2. https://www.usmirc.org/newsletter?author=646c115bbed8ce005aee1731
• Abdallah Al-Ola, Dunavin Neil, McClune Brian, Shune Leyla, McGuirk Joseph, Mahmoudjafari Zahra, Ganguly Siddhartha. 2018. Daratumumab, Pomalidomide, and Dexamethasone (DPd) for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: A Single Institution Experience.. Blood , 132 (1), 5642. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2018-99-117497
• Zulfiqar Fizza, Shahzad Moazzam, Vyas Abhinav, Sarfraz Zouina, Zainab Anika, Qasim Hana, Kaur Dania, Khavandgar Naghmeh, Amin Kashif, Ahmed Nausheen, Abdallah Al-Ola, Lutfi Forat, Hematti Peiman, Singh Anurag K, McGuirk Joseph P, Umair Muhammad. 2024. CT-163 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell (CAR-T) Therapy Outcomes In Rheumatological Autoimmune Disorders: A Systematic Review. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia, 24, S589. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2152-2650(24)01743-9
• Balmaceda N, Aziz M, Chandrasekar VT, McClune B, Kambhampati S, Shune L, Abdallah AO, Anwer F, Majeed A, Qazilbash M, Ganguly S, McGuirk J, Mohyuddin GR. 2021. Infection risks in multiple myeloma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials from 2015 to 2019.. BMC cancer, 21 (1), 730
• Kumar Shaji K, Alsina Melissa, Laplant Betsy, Badros Ashraf Z, Abdallah Al-Ola, Abonour Rafat, Asmus Erik J, Dhakal Binod, Rosenbaum Cara A, Egan Daniel, Bhutani Manisha, Jakubowiak Andrzej, Durie Brian G.M. 2022. Fixed Duration Therapy with Daratumumab, Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone for High Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma-Results of the Ascent Trial. Blood, 140 (Supplement 1), 1830-1832. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2022-168930
• Mohyuddin GR, Okoniewski M, Diab O, Ganguly S, Shune L, Abdallah AO, McGuirk J, McClune B. 2021. Maintenance regimens after a second autologous transplant for multiple myeloma.. Leukemia & lymphoma, 62 (3), 758-760